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For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST. Today SPJ announced the winners of the 2012 High School Essay Contest. Nearly 1,000 public, private and home-schooled students in grades 9-12 submitted essays on the topic "Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government?" Winners are:

First Place, $1,000 Scholarship: Hwasung (Daniel) Yoo of the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Va.

Second Place, $500 Scholarship: Niisackey Mills of South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield, N.J.

Third Place, $300 Scholarship: Dustin Chandler of East Burke High School in Connelly Springs, N.C.

— It's an understatement to say Haiti has endured a lot of bad news in the last several years — heck, the last several decades. In a country known for bad luck, struggling civic institutions and governmental ineffectiveness, what proper role does the press play? How can journalists be expected to act ethically when they need to take jobs and money from politicians to make ends meet? A U.S. journalist reviews her time teaching journalism ethics in the hemisphere's poorest country. Read the story.

— The SPJ Code of Ethics is a mainstay, sometimes called the "gold standard," in journalism ethics. It's used in many newsrooms as a guiding resource to help light the sometimes curvy and dark road down which all journalists travel. But sometimes it's not enough. That's why the SPJ Ethics Committee is releasing position papers this year to expand on certain topics covered by the Code. See the first three papers released so far. Read the story.

— "Ten" Q&A with Jim Asendio, whose ethical stance led him to resign as news director from Washington, D.C. public radio station WAMU. Read the interview.

ANNUAL REPORT DEADLINE LOOMS. While campus chapters' annual reports were due April 30, pro chapters have until May 15. Time will fly, so please work to complete your report as soon as possible! The pro chapter report form is here. Linda Hall is prepared to answer all your questions: lindah@spj.org or 317-927-8000 ext. 200.

When: Friday, May 18Where: Walter Cronkite School of JournalismCost: $20 for SPJ or ONA members, $40 for non-members. Fee includes breakfast and lunch.Registration deadline: May 14

The program, part of SPJ's Training Place program, is made possible by a grant from the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

KENTUCKY CHAPTER GIVES BACK. Members of the Eastern Kentucky University chapter raised money for the Licking Valley Courier's building, which was damaged in the March 2 tornado in West Liberty, Ky. They raised $180, which was donated through the Kentucky Journalism Foundation.

The students had originally planned to use the money raised to offset the cost of attending the Region 5 Spring Conference in Indianapolis.

HISTORIC JOURNALISM SITE RECOGNIZED. The Silverton Standard & The Miner, a Colorado newspaper, was named by SPJ as the 2011 Historic Site in Journalism. The newspaper, recognized by the SPJ Colorado chapter as a Historic Site in Journalism in 1969, is the oldest Colorado newspaper west of the Continental Divide. There will be a dedication at the site on May 5, 2012. Read more about the paper's history.

LAST WEEK'S QUIZ. A study released this week found some heartening statistics on journalism graduates' job rates compared with those of other majors. What did the researchers find about journalism grads?

Answer: A Georgetown University study found that recent journalism graduates have a lower unemployment rate than the average recent graduate: 7.7 percent compared with 8.9 percent overall. Read more of the findings.

And the winner is... Geoff Carr, an instructor at North Idaho College and a member of the Inland Northwest Pro chapter. Congratulations, Geoff! We hope you'll spread the good news to your students...but you can keep the fabulous SPJ Leads Quiz prize to yourself.

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ. Who owns the copyright on the now-famous falling-bear photo?